College of Law welcomes community to global poverty solutions conference

Jaclyn D. Grosso
(315) 443-9534

How do we end the cycle of poverty? What role does community economic development play? These are the central questions being asked at the Syracuse University symposium “Exploring Solutions to Poverty: A Global Perspective Through the Local Community Lens” on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Genesee Grande Hotel in Syracuse.

The one-day conference explores the framework of community economic development, its growth and its practical application in alleviating poverty both globally and locally. Practitioners, scholars, lawyers, economists and business people will engage in active, solutions-based dialogue-discussing microenterprise development and lending, neighborhood revitalization, social entrepreneurism, land reform and food justice. New York State CLE credit will be offered for attendance at this event.

“We want attendees to take away practical applications for alleviating poverty and creating sustainable economic change in communities,” says Deborah Kenn, professor of law and director of the SU College of Law Community Development Law Clinic. “It is only through economic justice that systemic solutions to poverty can be achieved.”

The international roster of speakers includes activists, academics and attorneys from several countries, including Brazil, Ethiopia, South Africa and the United States. Each panelist has experience working in underserved communities in innumerable countries throughout the world.

The conference is being held in celebration of the College of Law Community Development Law Clinic’s 20th anniversary and is sponsored by Community Development Law Clinic alumni, the SU College of Law, the South Side Initiative, the Enitiative program and the Center on Property, Citizenship, and Social Entrepreneurism.

The “South Africa Meets the South Side” project is one of 15 Syracuse University South Side Initiative projects that have been developed to help South Side residents in Syracuse build community capacity and neighborhood cohesiveness.